IE 3

The water industry provides one of our most vital resources right to our doorstep, but the processes that are required to maintain this service are numerous and provide many challenges in terms of efficiency and reliability. One of the most crucial components within the water treatment and delivery process is the humble electric motor, which along with its associated drive systems, provide the power necessary to keep the cycle in motion.

Fuelled by the introduction of more stringent IE efficiency classes, manufacturers are chasing headline efficiency figures which could only have been dreamed of just 10 years ago. There’s no denying that this is a positive thing for industry, but is motor efficiency just the tip of the iceberg?

Electric motor manufacturers, such as Bauer Gear Motor, part of Altra Industrial Motion, have been given sufficient time to develop the required technologies and prove them in real life applications. While the legislation for IE3 came into force in January 2015 for motors above 7.5 kW, some manufacturers already offer an IE4 Super Premium Efficiency product, even for applications in hygienic or potentially explosive atmospheres.

Electric motors are estimated to consume 70% of all the energy used in industry. Bearing this in mind, it’s no small wonder that there is an ongoing process of legislation requiring new technologies to adhere to ever higher standards of efficiency. Bauer Gear Motor offers a wide range of energy efficient solutions that meet current IE2, and future IE3 and IE4, regulations; it recently hosted a technology forum to help its customers understand the latest developments in the industry and discuss the best practices for maximising energy efficiency in the drive train.

A leading global manufacturer of stretch blow molding machines for PET bottles wanted to upgrade the geared motor efficiency on their line of equipment in order to be prepared for anticipated future increases in efficiency standards. Geared motors are the main drive for the machine’s carousel on which PET blanks are inserted into moulds and blown to shape.